When I lived in Baltimore I did a lot of walking and wandering. As a young, poor student I also was very money savvy. My friends and I frequented the thrift stores that bordered our college. The best shops were often in the seediest parts of town. There was usually a security guard waiting at the front door. I guess it was a necessary job to deter someone from stealing a $3 pair of jeans.

One of my favorite places was Value Village on North Avenue. They had daily deals and a constant influx of new old stuff. (Mutually agreed as a favorite thrift spot.) I often had to go there for odd supplies for art projects. Metal things for constructing a cake stand, fabric bits for making a teepee and occasionally, okay always, I would look around for hidden gems to adorn myself.

Shoes, one of my biggest weaknesses and cravings, were always a section I had to go poke around. Plus, as a Floridian living up north, I was always on the lookout for warm and cosy items.

I spotted these moccasins and there was just something about them. Yes, they were a little dingy. Yes, they were falling apart a bit at the seams. No matter, I had to have them and they were merely $2. I actually liked the way someone had tried to repair them. At the time, they were fixed with a little red thread. I was majoring in fiber, after all, sewing and stitching is a love of mine.

I bought these shoes and still have them all these years later. I have since added some new, green thread in an attempt to keep them alive longer. They are wearing away more and more each day, but they continue to be reliable, cosy, dirty and completely, nostalgically lovable.

Alex always looks perfectly put together. His hair always has that nicely executed curl or coif. Fitting, too, since he is the visual merchandiser for a popular fashion chain. Even more, though, Alex will always share a slice of cake with me. After a long shift I know I can count on him to point out some good shoes and dig into a three-tiered slice of carrot cranberry cake.

I never had a sister to trade clothes with. I never sought out hand-me-downs or hand-me-ups from my brothers. However, sometimes when my mom would get rid of old clothes, especially when I was away from home, living states apart, I would cling to her old, cosy clothes.

Like this grey sweater. It already had some little holes, probably a reason she was getting rid of it, and I loved it. I accidentally shrunk it in the wash, but then I still loved it more. It became like an old stuffed bear or blanket. The more disheveled this sweater has become, the more I want to put it on and feel the tight squeeze of my mom.

Sometimes I daydream about these old clothes. I wonder if I went to with my mom to the Gap when she bought this. I wonder if I was trailing along, playing under the racks of collared shirts and khaki pants with my younger brother. Maybe I had brought along a friend and we were fawning over the fancy things we might one day wear.

I think about my clothes a lot. I think about the emotional power they have over me. I consider if this makes me crazier. Either way, I love to pull this shrunken number over a dress and rub the softness of it. I feel for those little tears in the sleeve and think about my mother.

Julie has a magical, raspy sound that comes out when she talks and sings. I heard about her before I knew her. I saw her on low fidelity internet videos before I saw her in the flesh. When I finally did get the introduction, I thought she was even better than I had hoped.

My mind’s best memory of her is when she is sporting giant, gold-hooped earrings and her perfectly shredded tee. Wonderfully delightful, she has got a magnificent laugh.

From start to finish, what would be your ideal food day? An everything bagel with olive tofu cream cheese, big salad with lots of fruit, watermelon chunks, some kind of non-dairy ice cream and lots of iced coffee.

Favorite cities for food? Washington DC for limitless vegan options and Ethiopian food.
New York City for the bagels.

Favorite splurge? If, in regards to food, I splurge on vegan baked goods. The carrot cookie creme sandwich thing from Karma Cream is ridiculously good. If we aren’t talking food, and just talking life, I like to splurge on trips out of town.

Are there any key pieces you find yourself wearing constantly? Big earrings and a pair of Hush Puppies I bought for $3, that are rapidly disintegrating.

What is your most recent purchase? A couple silk blouses from a thrift store in Richmond, Va. that I will probably never wear.

Style icon(s)? It is my goal to dress something like 1990s Lauryn Hill and Kim Gordon, with a little Souixie Souix. However, I’m pretty sure I usually looking like Kurt Cobain in his frumpy grandpa phase